Leap day!

Yet another leap of faith collage print by the fabulous Living Feral

Let's make this a day to take chances
and make changes.
Let's leap with our eyes wide open!

Go take an Obsessive Compulsive Hike!

My mind was completely blown away when I first saw Simon Beck's "drawings" on snow. To make his patterns, Simon walks on snowshoes for up to 9 hours a day, sometimes to find the morning after that his progress has been erased by overnight weather. 

The OCD part of my can totally understand this! It has to be hypnotic to walk on and on for hours, paying close attention to the pattern your footsteps make on the soft snow. 

Simon Beck in his snow shoes with one of his patterns behind him.

Doesn't this remind you of labyrinths and meditation mazes?

New Harmony Labyrinth (Image and more info here)

Image from here

Images of Simon Beck's art from here and here, but most likely taken by Simon himself.

Monterey's Aquarium

A couple of weeks ago J attended EcoFarm, a prominent forum for organic farmers to meet and discuss the latest research, methods and advances in eco-friendly farming techniques.

While he attended lectures on pond management, natural pest control, fruit tree pruning, beekeeping, and seed swaps, I visited one of my favorite places in the whole wide world: the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Their displays are incredible, with fresh ocean water pumped into their tanks several times a day. The Aquarium's building used to be a cannery, so if you go pay attention to the huge canning ovens as you enter.

I was lucky to visit on a slow day, as it can be a bit crazy in there with tons of kids, strollers and groups. If you can ignore them all, the Aquarium is like a dream come true. Go early, as you won't want to leave. Also, eat at the restaurant (past the café), it is a bit pricey but super chill, with delicious food, wine, ocean views and your own pair of binoculars at each table.
Oh, and remember to charge your camera's battery the night before you visit, as it is super easy to run out of power with all the spectacular displays!

For more info and to see the creatures in the pictures in action, plus live feed from their research submarines, make sure to visit the  Aquarium's site.

Androgynous beauty: satin dress.

Isn't this photo of Iggy Pop just wonderful?

Given the number of posts about androgyny I have created, I bet you can see a pattern. 

I just love the idea of blurred boundaries; of unclear, dissolving lines. 

I found this photo via Pinterest and sadly I have no idea who the photographer is. I also wonder if the text was part of the original idea or of it was added after the fact. I hate not to give proper credit, so if you have the answers please let me know.